Shrinkage Mitigation Strategies for Concrete Bridge Decks: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis
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Concrete bridge decks develop early-age shrinkage cracks which create a widespread durability issue that speeds up steel reinforcement corrosion and requires more maintenance expenses and shortens the lifespan of the bridge. The study will conduct an organized evaluation to identify classification methods and assess the success rates of shrinkage control techniques used for concrete bridge decks. The research will identify missing information to direct upcoming studies and operational procedures in the field. Systematic review (PRISMA), which analyzed 154 studies published between 2000 and 2025 that they found in Scopus and Web of Science and various engineering databases. Bibliometric analysis performed to map research trends, geographic distribution, and thematic clusters. The study discovered nine main strategies which were analyzed against each other including shrinkage-reducing admixtures, fiber reinforcement, internal curing with lightweight aggregates, supplementary cementitious materials, expansive agents, optimized mix design, improved curing practices, and combined multi-strategy approaches. Shrinkage-reducing admixtures reduced drying shrinkage by (25-40) %, internal curing by (30-45) %, and UHPC overlays by up to 55%. The combination of shrinkage-reducing admixtures and internal curing methods led to a 52% decrease in results. Fiber reinforcement primarily controlled crack widths rather than total shrinkage strain. The combination of multiple strategic approaches produces better results than using each method independently. The highest performing UHPC solution becomes unaffordable because it requires a major increase in project expenses.
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